Semiconductor device and method of making

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region, a gate structure over the channel region, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer proximate the gate structure, an ILD stress layer proximate the top portion of gate structure and over the ILD layer. The gate structure includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a top portion. A first stress memorization region is also provided. The first stress memorization region is proximate the top portion of the gate structure. A method of making a semiconductor device is also provided.

BACKGROUND

A transistor, such as MUGFET (multiple gate field effect transistor), comprises a source region, a drain region, a gate and a channel region between the source region and the drain region. As the name implies, MUGFETS often include more than one gate. In some MUGFETs multiple gates are controlled by a single gate electrode, wherein multiple gate surfaces act electrically as a single gate to control current flow through the channel region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 a is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 b is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 12 a is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 12 b is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 15 a is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 15 b is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device during fabrication, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the claimed subject matter. It is evident, however, that the claimed subject matter can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are illustrated in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the claimed subject matter.

One or more semiconductor devices and one or more methods for forming such semiconductor devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a MUGFET device, such as a multi-gate transistors or fin-type multi-gate transistor. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes at least one of a PFET or a NFET.

Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated is a flow diagram of a method 100 for fabricating a semiconductor device 200 according to some embodiments. Referring also to FIGS. 2 to 15 b, illustrated are various views of the semiconductor device 200 at various stages of fabrication according to some embodiments, such as according to the method 100 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, part of the semiconductor device 200 is fabricated with a CMOS process flow. In some embodiments, additional processes are provided at least one of before, during, or after the method 100 of FIG. 1.

At 102, a substrate 202 is provided, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the substrate 202 is a bulk silicon substrate. According to some embodiments, the substrate 202 includes a wafer or a die formed from a wafer. In some embodiments, the substrate 202 includes at least one of silicon, germanium, silicon germanium, silicon carbide, gallium arsenic, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, indium arsenide or indium antimonide. In some embodiments, the substrate 202 is a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. In some embodiments, the SOI substrate is fabricated using at least one of separation by implantation of oxygen (SIMOX) or wafer bonding.

In some embodiments, the substrate 202 includes an insulator layer. In some embodiments, the insulator layer includes silicon oxide or sapphire. In some embodiments, the insulator layer is a buried oxide layer (BOX). In some embodiments, the insulator layer is formed by at least one of an implantation (e.g., SIMOX), oxidation, deposition or other suitable process. In some embodiments, the insulator layer is a component of an SOI substrate.

In some embodiments, the substrate 202 includes various doped regions. In some embodiments, the doped regions include at least one of p-type wells or n-type wells. In some embodiments, the doped regions are doped with at least one of p-type dopants, such as boron or BF₂ or n-type dopants, such as phosphorus or arsenic. In some embodiments, the doped regions are formed on the substrate 202 in at least one of a P-well structure, a N-well structure, a dual-well structure or a raised structure. In some embodiments, the semiconductor substrate 202 includes at least one of a first active region or a second active region. In some embodiments, at least one of the first active region or second active regions is configured as at least one of an N-type field-effect transistor (nFET) or a P-type field-effect transistor (pFET). In some embodiments, at least one of the nFET or pFET is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET)

In some embodiments, a first fin structure 204 and a second fin structure 205 are formed at least one of on or from the substrate 202. In some embodiments, at least one of the first fin structure 204 or the second fin structure 205 is formed by at least one of a deposition, photolithography, or etching processes. In some embodiments, the photolithography process includes forming a pattern in a resist that is formed over the substrate. In some embodiments, etching is then performed to remove areas of the substrate not covered by the patterned resist to form the fin structures. In some embodiments, the etching process includes a reactive ion etching (RIE) process.

At 104, an isolation structure 206 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 206 is formed on the substrate 202. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 206 is formed between at least one of the first fin structure 204 or the second fin structure 205. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 206 is a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 206 is formed by a deposition process. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 206 includes at least one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or an air gap.

At 106, a dummy gate structure 208 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the dummy gate structure 208 is formed over at least one of the first fin structure 204, the second fin structure 205, the isolation structure 206 or the substrate 202. In some embodiments, the dummy gate structure 208 includes at least one of a dummy dielectric layer 212, a first dummy poly layer 214 or a hard mask layer 216. In some embodiments, the dummy gate structure includes at least one of a first sidewall not shown or a second sidewall 209. In some embodiments, at least one of the first sidewall or the second sidewall 209 are formed from a side surface of at least one of the dummy dielectric layer 212, the first dummy poly layer 214 or the hard mask layer 216.

In some embodiments, the dummy dielectric layer 212 is formed by a deposition process. In some embodiments, the dummy dielectric layer 212 includes an oxide. In some embodiments, the dummy dielectric layer 212 includes at least one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, HfO₂, HfSiO, HfSiON, HfTaO, HfTiO, HfZrO, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide or hafnium dioxide-alumina (HfO₂, Al₂O₃) alloy. In some embodiments, the dummy dielectric layer 212 has a height about 0.5 to about 5 nanometers (nm).

In some embodiments, the first dummy poly layer 214 is formed over the dummy dielectric layer 212. In some embodiments, the first dummy poly layer 214 is formed by a deposition process. In some embodiments, the first dummy poly layer 214 includes a polysilicon. In some embodiments, the first dummy poly layer 214 has a height 250. In some embodiments, the height 250 is about 20 to about 100 nm.

In some embodiments, the hard mask layer 216 is formed over the first dummy poly layer 214. In some embodiments, the hard mask layer 216 is formed by a deposition process. In some embodiments, the hard mask layer 216 includes at least one of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or silicon carbide. In some embodiments, the hard mast layer 216 has a height ranging from about 1 to about 20 nanometers (nm).

In some embodiments, the dummy gate structure 208 is formed by any suitable process or processes. In some embodiments, the dummy gate structure 208 is formed by at least one of a deposition, photolithography patterning, or etching process. In some embodiments, the deposition process include at least one of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), high density plasma CVD (HDPCVD), metal organic CVD (MOCVD), remote plasma CVD (RPCVD), plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD) or plating process. In some embodiments, the photolithography patterning process include at least one of a photoresist coating, soft baking, mask aligning, exposure, post-exposure baking, developing the photoresist, rinsing or drying process. In some embodiments, the photolithography exposing process includes at least one of maskless photolithography, electron-beam writing, and ion-beam writing. In some embodiments, the etching processes include at least one of dry etching, wet etching or reactive ion etching.

At, 108, a gate spacer material 221 is formed over exposed surfaces of existing portions of the semiconductor device 200, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In some embodiments, the gate spacer material 221 is deposited. In some embodiments, the gate spacer material 221 includes a dielectric material. In some embodiments, the dielectric material includes at least one of a silicon nitride, silicon carbide or silicon oxynitride.

At 110, a fin recess 310 is performed, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, at least one of the first fin structure 204 or the second fin structure 205 is at least partially removed. In some embodiments, at least some of the gate spacer material 221 is at least partially removed leaving at least one of a first gate spacer 218 adjacent the first sidewall or a second gate spacer 220 adjacent the second sidewall 209. In some embodiments, at least a portion of one of the first fin structure 204 or the second fin structure 205 remains under the gate structure 208 to form a channel region 268. In some embodiments, the fin recess 310 includes forming a photoresist layer over the semiconductor device 200, patterning the photoresist layer to have openings that expose an active region of at least one of the first fin structure 204 or the second fin structure 205 and etching back material to recess at least one of the first fin structure 204 or the second fin structure 205. In some embodiments, the etching includes at least one of dry etching, wet etching or reactive ion etching.

At 112, a source/drain (S/D) regions 222 a, 222 b, 223 a, 223 b (not shown) are formed, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, the regions 222 a and 223 a are source regions while regions 222 b and 224 b are drain regions. In some embodiments, the regions 222 a and 223 a are drain regions while regions 222 b and 224 b are source regions. In some embodiments, channel regions 268 are disposed between the source regions and the drain regions. In some embodiments, the S/D regions are formed by epitaxial (epi) growth. In some embodiments, the epi growth includes at least one of a vapor-phase epitaxy (VPE), ultra-high vacuum CND (UHV-CVD) or molecular beam epitaxy. In some embodiments, at least some of the S/D regions are in-situ doped. In some embodiments, a dopant used for in-situ doping includes at least one of a p-type dopant or an n-type dopant. In some embodiments, the p-type dopant includes at least one of boron or BF₂. In some embodiments, the n-type dopant includes at least one of phosphorus or arsenic.

At 114, a CESL (contact etch stop layer) 226 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the CESL 226 is formed by a process 320. In some embodiments, the process 320 includes at least one of PECVD, sub atmospheric chemical vapor deposition (SACVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), ALD, HDPCVD, plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD), molecular layer deposition (MLD) or plasma impulse chemical vapor deposition (PICVD). In some embodiments, the CESL is formed over at least one of the S/D regions 222 a, 222 b, 223 a, 223 b, the gate structure 208, the first gate spacer 218, the second gate spacer 220 or the isolation structure 206. In some embodiments, the CESL 226 includes a dielectric material. In some embodiments, the CESL 226 includes at least one of SiN_(x), SiO_(x), SiON, SiC, SiCN, BN, SiBN or SiCBN. In some embodiments, the CESL 226 is about 10 to about 100 nm thick.

At 116, an ILD layer 230 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 9. In some embodiments, the ILD layer 230 is formed by a process 330. In some embodiments, the process 330 includes a flowed chemical vapor deposition (FCVD). In some embodiments, the ILD layer 230 is formed over at least one of the substrate 202 or the CESL 226. In some embodiments, the ILD layer 230 includes an oxide. In some embodiments, the ILD layer 230 includes at least one of silicon oxide, silicon oxy-nitride, silicon carbide, or other suitable low-k materials, In some embodiments, the ILD layer 230 fills in a gap between a nFET device and an adjacent pFET device. In some embodiments, a process 340 is performed on the semiconductor device 200 to planarize the ILD layer 230, as illustrated in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the process 340 includes a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. In some embodiments, the process 340 exposes the dummy gate structure 208. In some embodiments, the process 340 removes the hard mask layer 216 and exposes an upper surface of the first dummy poly layer 214.

At 118, an implantation 350 is performed, as illustrated in FIG. 11 a and FIG. 11 b. In some embodiments, the implantation 350 implants a dopant. In some embodiments, the dopant includes at least one of Si, Ge, Ar, F, N, Xe, BF₂ or As. In some embodiments, the dopant is implanted into at least one of the ILD layer 230 or the first dummy poly layer 214. In some embodiments, the implantation 350 forms at least one of an implanted ILD layer 240 or an implanted dummy poly layer 242. In some embodiments, the implanted dummy poly layer 242 is at least partially amorphous. In some embodiments, the implanted dummy poly layer 242 is over the first dummy poly layer 214. In some embodiments, the implanted ILD layer 240 is over the ILD layer 230. In some embodiments, at least one of the implanted ILD layer 240 or the implanted dummy poly layer 242 has a depth 252. In some embodiments, the depth 252 is about 5 to about 50 nm. In some embodiments, the depth 252 is controlled by at least one of an implant energy, implantation angel, implant dosage or the dopant implanted. In some embodiments, the implant dosage is about 1E¹⁴ to about 1E¹⁶ cm².

FIGS. 11 b, 12 b and 15 b provide various cross-sectional views of the semiconductor device 200 along plane 258. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device 200 includes a nFET device 244 and a pFET device 246. In some embodiments, the nFET device 244 and the pFET device 246 are substantially similar other than having S/D regions doped with different type dopants. In some embodiments, the method 100 is performed on the nFET device 244 and the pFET device 246 at the same time.

At 120, an anneal 360 is performed, as illustrated in FIG. 12 a and FIG. 12 b. In some embodiments, the anneal 360 includes at least one of a rapid thermal anneal (RTA), a dynamic spike anneal (DSA), a laser spike anneal (LSA), a flash anneal, a sub-second anneal (SSA) or an ultra sub-second anneal (uSSA). In some embodiments, the anneal 360 is performed at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 1300° C. In some embodiments, the anneal 360 drives an implanted dopant into at least one of the implanted ILD layer 240 or the implanted dummy poly layer 242. In some embodiments, the anneal 360 forms at least one of an ILD stress layer 260 or a second dummy poly layer 262 from the implanted ILD layer 240 or the implanted dummy poly layer 242, respectively. In some embodiments, the ILD stress layer 260 is over the ILD layer 230. In some embodiments, the second dummy poly layer 262 is over the first dummy poly layer 214. In some embodiments, at least one of the ILD stress layer 260 or the second dummy poly layer 262 includes at least one of Si, Ge, Ar, N, Xe, BF, or As.

In some embodiments, the anneal 360 forms at least one of a first stress memorization region 264 or a second stress memorization region 266, as illustrated in FIG. 12 b. In some embodiments, the first stress memorization region 264 is formed by the ILD stress layer 260 expanding and compressing at least one of the first gate spacer 218, the second gate spacer 220, the CESL 226 or the dummy gate structure 208. In some embodiments, the expansion of the ILD stress layer 260 applies a compressive strain in the vertical direction of the dummy gate structure 208. In some embodiments, the compressive strain in the vertical direction enhances electron mobility in the NFET device 246. In some embodiments, the second stress memorization region 266 is formed by a compressive strain in the channel region 268. In some embodiments, the compressive strain in the channel region 268 results from a difference in grain size from the first poly layer 214 to the second poly layer 262. In some embodiments, the difference in grain size is caused by the anneal 360 re-crystallizing the amorphous part of the implanted dummy poly layer 242. In some embodiments, the second dummy poly layer 262 has a second grain size that is larger than a first grain size of the first dummy poly layer 214. In some embodiments, the compressive strain in the channel region 268 enhances the hole mobility of the PFET device 246.

At 122, a replacement gate process is performed. In some embodiments, the dummy gate structure 208 is removed, as illustrated in FIG. 13. In some embodiments, the dummy gate structure 208 is removed by a process 370. In some embodiments, the process 370 includes at least one of a dry etching, a wet etching or a reactive ion etching process. In some embodiments, the removal of the dummy gate structure 208 forms an opening 272.

In some embodiments, a gate structure 274 is formed in the opening 272, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In some embodiments, the gate structure 274 includes at least one of an interfacial layer 276, a gate dielectric layer 278 or a gate electrode layer 280. In some embodiments, the gate structure 274 includes at least one of a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a top portion. In some embodiments, the top portion has a height 255. In some embodiments, the height 255 is about 5 to about 40 nm.

In some embodiments, the interfacial layer 276 is formed over the substrate 202. In some embodiments, the interfacial layer 276 includes at least one of silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride. In some embodiments, the interfacial layer 276 inhibits damage between the gate structure 276 and the substrate 202.

In some embodiments, the gate dielectric layer 278 is formed over the interfacial layer 276. In some embodiments, the gate dielectric layer 278 includes at least one of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or high-k dielectric material. In some embodiments, the high-k dielectric material includes at least one of HfO₂, HfSiO, HfSiON, HfTaO, HfTiO, HfZrO, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide or hafnium dioxide-alumina (HfO₂—Al₂O₃) alloy.

In some embodiments, the gate electrode layer 280 is formed over the gate dielectric layer 278, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In some embodiments, the gate electrode layer 280 includes a metal. In some embodiments, the gate electrode layer 280 includes at least one of polysilicon, aluminum, copper, titanium, tantulum, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum nitride, nickel silicide, cobalt silicide, TiN, WN, TiAl, TiAlN, TaCN, TaC or TaSiN. In some embodiments, the gate electrode layer 280 includes a work function metal layer. In some embodiments, the gate electrode layer 280 fills the opening 272. In some embodiments, a process 380 is performed to planarize the top portion of at least one of the gate electrode layer 280 or the ILD stress layer 260, as illustrated in FIG. 15 a and FIG. 15 b. In some embodiments, the process 380 is a CMP process. In some embodiments, at least one of the first stress memorization region 264 or the second stress memorization region 266 is maintained through the formation of the gate structure 274.

In some embodiments, the gate structure 274 is formed by any suitable process or processes. In some embodiments, the gate structure 274 is formed by a at least one of a deposition, photolithography patterning, or etching process. In some embodiments, the deposition process include at least one of a CVD, PVD, ALD, HDPCVD, MOCVD, RPCVD, PECVD or plating process. In some embodiments, the photolithography patterning process include at least one of a photoresist coating, soft baking, mask aligning, exposure, post-exposure baking, developing the photoresist, rinsing or drying process. In some embodiments, the photolithography exposing process includes at least one of maskless photolithography, electron-beam writing, and ion-beam writing. In some embodiments, the etching processes include at least one of dry etching, wet etching or reactive ion etching.

In some embodiments, the semiconductor device 200 includes other layers or features not specifically illustrated. In some embodiments, other back end of line (BEOL) processes are preformed on the semiconductor device 200. In some embodiments, the method 100 is performed as a non-replacement metal gate process or a gate-first process.

According to some aspects of the instant disclosure, semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device comprising a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region, a gate structure over the channel region, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer proximate the gate structure and an ILD stress layer proximate the top portion of gate structure and over the ILD layer. The gate structure comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a top portion.

According to some aspects of the instant disclosure, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device comprising a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region, a gate structure over the channel region, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer proximate the gate structure, an ILD stress layer proximate the top portion of gate structure and over the ILD layer and a first stress memorization region. The gate structure comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a top portion. The first stress memorization region proximate the top portion of the gate structure.

According to some aspects of the instant disclosure, a method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprising forming a dummy gate structure over a substrate, forming a first gate spacer adjacent the first sidewall, forming a second gate spacer adjacent the second sidewall, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the substrate, performing an implantation on at least one of the ILD layer or the poly layer and performing an anneal, thereby forming at least one of an ILD stress layer over the ILD layer or a second dummy poly layer over the first dummy poly layer. The second dummy poly layer having a second grain size that is different than a first grain size of the first dummy poly layer. The dummy gate structure comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a first dummy poly layer between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing at least some of the claims.

Various operations of embodiments are provided herein. The order in which some or all of the operations are described should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Alternative ordering will be appreciated given the benefit of this description. Further, it will be understood that not all operations are necessarily present in each embodiment provided herein. Also, it will be understood that not all operations are necessary in some embodiments.

Further, unless specified otherwise, “first,” “second,” or the like are not intended to imply a temporal aspect, a spatial aspect, an ordering, etc. Rather, such terms are merely used as identifiers, names, etc. for features, elements, items, etc. For example, a first channel and a second channel generally correspond to channel A and channel B or two different or two identical channels or the same channel.

It will be appreciated that layers, features, elements, etc. depicted herein are illustrated with particular dimensions relative to one another, such as structural dimensions or orientations, for purposes of simplicity and ease of understanding and that actual dimensions of the same differ substantially from that illustrated herein, in some embodiments. Additionally, a variety of techniques exist for forming the layers, regions, features, elements, etc. mentioned herein, such as implanting techniques, doping techniques, spin-on techniques, sputtering techniques, growth techniques, such as thermal growth or deposition techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), for example.

Moreover, “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, illustration, etc., and not necessarily as advantageous. As used in this application, “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. In addition, “a” and “an” as used in this application are generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Also, at least one of A and B or the like generally means A or B or both A and B. Furthermore, to the extent that “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising”.

Also, although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art based upon a reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The disclosure includes all such modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), the terms used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure. In addition, while a particular feature of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. 

1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region; a gate structure over the channel region, comprising: a first sidewall; a second sidewall; and a top portion; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer proximate the gate structure; and an ILD stress layer proximate the top portion of gate structure and over the ILD layer.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising: a first stress memorization region proximate the top portion of the gate structure.
 3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising: a second stress memorization region in the channel region.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the ILD stress layer comprises: at least one of Si, Ge, Ar, Xe, N, F, BF₂ or As.
 5. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the ILD stress layer is about 5 to about 40 nm thick.
 6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising: a first gate spacer adjacent the first sidewall; and a second gate spacer adjacent the second sidewall.
 7. The semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising: a contact etch stop layer (CESL) between at least one of the source region, the drain region, the first sidewall or the second sidewall and at least one of the ILD layer or the ILD stress layer.
 8. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor device is a MUGFET.
 9. A semiconductor device, comprising: a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region; a gate structure over the channel region, comprising: a first sidewall; a second sidewall; and a top portion; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer proximate the gate structure; an ILD stress layer proximate the top portion of gate structure and over the ILD layer; and a first stress memorization region proximate the top portion of the gate structure.
 10. The semiconductor device of claim 9, comprising: a second stress memorization region in the channel region.
 11. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein the ILD stress layer comprises: at least one of Si, Ge, Ar, Xe, N, F, BF₂ or As.
 12. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein the ILD stress layer is about 5 to about 40 nm thick. 13.-20. (canceled)
 21. A semiconductor device, comprising: a first source region; a first drain region; a first channel region disposed between the first source region and the first drain region; a gate structure over the first channel region; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over at least one of the first source region or the first drain region; and an ILD stress layer over the ILD layer.
 22. The semiconductor device of claim 21, the ILD stress layer applying a compressive strain on the gate structure;
 23. The semiconductor device of claim 21, comprising: a contact etch stop layer (CESL) disposed between the ILD stress layer and the gate structure.
 24. The semiconductor device of claim 21, comprising: a gate spacer disposed between the ILD stress layer and the gate structure.
 25. The semiconductor device of claim 21, comprising: a contact etch stop layer (CESL) in contact with the ILD stress layer; and a gate spacer in contact with the CESL and the gate structure.
 26. The semiconductor device of claim 25, wherein the CESL is in contact with the ILD layer.
 27. The semiconductor device of claim 21, wherein the ILD layer is in contact with the ILD stress layer.
 28. The semiconductor device of claim 21, comprising: a second source region; a second drain region; and a second channel region disposed between the second source region and the second drain region, wherein the gate structure is over the second channel region. 